Bristol (9) 9
Pens: Barnes (3)
Bath (6) 19
Try: Higgins
Pens: Barkley (4)
Con: Barkley
Olly Barkley kicked four penalties and converted the game's only try as Bath beat Bristol in the West country derby.
The boot of Bristol's Ed Barnes ensured the hosts took a 9-6 lead into half-time at Ashton Gate.
But Barkley's two second-half penalties, adding to his pair before the break, put Bath ahead.
Bristol flanker Joel El Abd had a try disallowed for offside before Andrew Higgins raced clear to score and Barkley slotted over the conversion.
The result sees Bath remain third in the Premiership but they are now just one point behind second-placed Leicester with a game in hand.
But their victory owed much to the performance of fly-half Barkley, who has agreed to join Gloucester in the summer on a two-year contract.
606: DEBATE
Bath dominated early territory, moving ahead through an eighth-minute Barkley penalty, and although Barnes quickly landed an equalising strike, Bristol remained under pressure.
Barkley and Barnes exchanged further penalties, yet Bath ensured play remained deep inside Bristol's half for long periods.
Matt Banahan knocked on when in a try-scoring position and Bath were denied again when referee David Rose ruled that Joe Maddock's pass to wing Michael Stephenson had drifted forward.
Bristol were able to prosper, moving ahead for the first time as Barnes completed his penalty hat-trick with the final kick of a disappointing half.
But Barkley's penalty following sustained pressure made it 9-9 on 48 minutes and, after El Abd's effort was ruled out having powered over unopposed from the back of a five-metre lineout, Barkley rifled over a 40-metre penalty.
Bath then embellished the scoreline through Higgins' try and Barkley's additional two points confirmed Bristol's first home league defeat in almost six months.
"We'd have had more of a chance had we played them at the Memorial Stadium but it's one of those things we have to accept.
"We can turn people over there but it's a business as well, and commercial decisions have to be made.
"Bath were better from the start. They're the best in the country."
"I was surprised he's not involved from the off but that's the England management's decision.
"He's dealt very well with things, and was extremely good again today.
"If it was me, I would have him in the (England) squad. His rugby hasn't dropped off, he's kept delivering."
Bristol: L. Arscott, Elliott, Higgitt, Hill, Lemi, Barnes, O'Riordan, Clarke, Linklater, Crompton, Llewellyn, Hohneck, Salter, El Abd, Blowers.
Replacements: Regan, Hilton, Winters, To'oala, Thomas, Strange, Cox.
Bath: Maddock, Stephenson, Crockett, Berne, Banahan, Barkley, Claassens, Barnes, Mears, Stevens, Borthwick, Short, Beattie, Lipman, Browne.
Replacements: Dixon, Bell, Purdy, Goodman, Baxter, Cheeseman, Higgins.
Referee: David Rose (RFU)
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